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mischiefandspirits · 3 years

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Last Laugh (2 of 3)

“Oh, I noticed,” Red X said lowly, tossing the staff aside. “What that idiot was thinking letting Flamebird send you all the way across the country right after Batkid got blown up, I’ll never know.”

Robin flinched back at the accusation before his fists clenched at his sides. “Then you’ll be happy to know no one sent me here. It’s just where I ended up when Batman decided he didn’t want to work with me anymore and tossed me out.”

The story of how Dick ended up with the Titans in Batkid and Robin.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jason once told Dick that he spent months after he’d come to the manor worrying he’d be dumped back onto the streets at any minute. As a result, he’d kept go-bags hidden around, ready to go at a moment’s notice in hopes that he’d have time to grab one before he was sent away. They each had water bottles and food stolen from the kitchen, bandages from the infirmary, a backup set of clothes, a good blanket, a knife, and some cash he’d save whenever Bruce would give him any.

The others had known about them, of course, but hadn’t said anything. Jason had only known because Bruce would sneak some extra cash into them and Selina would slip in things that could be useful on the streets that he hadn’t considered while Alfred had checked them every so often to refresh the food and make sure he wasn’t filling them with junk food.

Once he’d gotten more comfortable, he’d started giving them up. By the time Bruce had disappeared, all the bags Jason had hidden had been unpacked. He never let go of his need to be prepared, though. So in place of the bags, he had four briefcases. Bulletproof, fireproof, blast-proof, and with encrypted locks, they were filled with paperwork for Jason to use in case he ever needed to go on the run. Each had everything necessary for a fake identity, including corresponding bank account information. All were created outside the family’s influence just in case the reason he needed to lie low was mind control.

Dick had never seen what was inside the first two, didn’t even know where Jason had stashed them, but he knew the third had a file for Casey Jacob Dickinson. Only because the fourth held the file for Casey’s half-brother Ryan Emil Dickinson.

The latter is the one Dick took when he snuck into Jason’s room and pried up the loose floorboard hidden under the dresser in the closet. It was their special secret, something only they shared. Something Jason had trusted Dick and only Dick with.

“Thanks, Jay,” he said, replacing the floorboard. He pushed the dresser back into place then moved to leave, but paused when he spotted the brown jacket hanging by the door.

Dick had gotten it for Jason to match his own red Batkid hoodie. He’d accidentally gotten it in a larger size than Jason usually liked to wear, but that hadn’t stopped his brother from wearing it every time the two of them hung out with just each other.

Running his thumb over the red robin patch on the shoulder, Dick stared at the jacket for a moment before pulling it off the hanger.

They wouldn’t miss it. No one had been in the room in over a month.

Case in hand and jacket slung over his shoulder, he snuck back to his room. He opened the case and pulled out the file. He slipped the ID and debit card into his wallet before putting the file into the lockbox. He carefully folded the jacket and set it into the case along with the small photo album Selina had helped him put together. It held pictures of everyone in the family, including the photo Tim had given him of himself, his parents, Damian, Jon, Duke, Tim, Steph, Jason, Babs, and Cass from that night.

It was the only picture he had of his parents, thanks to the people who ran Gotham Juvenile Detention losing almost everything he’d taken with him from the circus. He had another copy on his nightstand back at the house he, Damian, and Jon shared -- had shared -- in Somerset. The family he’d lost side by side with the family he’d gained. It made him sad every time he saw it, but it was still his favorite.

Except now they were both families he’d lost.

At least if Bruce gets his way.

Dick slammed the case closed and stuck it into the duffle bag next to the lockbox. He locked the box then piled in the clothes he’d already gathered. He tossed his wallet into the bag then zipped it up and shoved it back under the bed.

One last thing to do.

He was halfway to the closest cave entrance when he bumped into Bruce and Selina.

“Hey there, songbird,” Selina greeted.

“Hey.”

“Dinner’s almost ready,” Bruce said and reached out to ruffle his hair.

Dick stepped away before he could, then walked past them. “Not hungry.”

“He heard the news, then?”

“Hm.”

“I’ll talk to him.”

“I will. I’m the one he’s mad at.”

Dick stomped into the library, ignoring his tail.

“Dick, let’s talk.”

“I don’t want to talk to you.”

“I know you’re upset, but -”

“Then leave me alone.”

“Please just let m-”

“I get it,” Dick snapped, spinning to face the man. “You got what you wanted. You didn’t want Damian to -” To foster him, to bring him into Bruce’s home, to try and make a place for him in the family. He’d heard enough snippets of the arguments Damian and Bruce had had when Bruce came back. He’d always thought Bruce thought Damian was the problem, that he didn’t trust Damian with Dick and planned to take Dick in himself. He’d also thought Bruce had finally accepted that Damian was keeping Dick. Had he been wrong on both counts?

Or had Dick’s actions ruined everything?

“Why couldn’t you just leave us alone?”

“Dick,” Bruce sighed. He knelt in front of Dick and set his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I just want what’s best for you.”

“Anything to get what you want,” Dick snorted and pushed the hand off so he could turn away before Bruce could see his tears.

“Dick, wait.”

A hand caught his wrist and Dick…

He was losing his family again. Jason was dead. Bruce had taken Robin. Damian was sending him back. His only hope was that the others would fight for him, but would they?

If they didn’t, he’d be alone.

Again.

And it would be his fault this time.

But it would also be because…

Dick spun around and hit Bruce right in the jaw.

Then he ran.

Tim and Jason had both long outgrown the small vent hidden above a tall bookshelf in the far corner of the library and Dick had never needed to use it, but it still swung easily on the hinges the second Batkid had installed after discovering the hidden nook.

He climbed through and let the vent swing silently shut behind him. He crawled down the shaft until he reached a similar vent. He dropped down into a thin, dusty hallway. Down the hall, around a corner, then down another hall was a small door halfway up the wall. A makeshift ladder led up to it and a hidden lever opened it, revealing Bruce’s study.

Dick dropped out of the hidden passage, letting the door swing shut behind him to meld unnoticeably with the rest of the wall. He twisted the hands of the grandfather clock on the opposite wall and disappeared down into the cave, heading for the vehicle bay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dick left while the others were all patrolling and Alfred was taking a break. He used a bike that he’d removed the tracker from and kept all his devices off. He went to a hotel in the Bowery that he knew was shady enough to look the other way when a fourteen-year-old rented a room on his own, but not shady enough to take advantage of it.

He gave it a week, then two, before sneaking onto a roof in Coventry on a night he knew Oracle wouldn’t be working. He turned on the comm he’d brought and listened in. For the most part, everything was just the usual reporting in. However, things changed just before one.

“I’m moving in. Going dark,” Batman said.

“Got it, B-man,” Batgirl chirped. After a moment, in a more somber voice, she said, “So…”

Black Bat groaned and Orphan said, “No.”

“You don’t even know what I was going to ask!”

“We haven’t heard anything, and we’re not getting involved,” Black Bat said shortly.

“Not our place,” Orphan agreed.

“I know that! I was just wondering if Flamebird’s changed his mind,” Batgirl huffed.

“It’s for the best,” Orphan said after a moment.

“I get that,” Batgirl sighed. “I’m just going to miss the kid. I already miss him, and I know Oracle and Pup do too.”

“We all feel that way, but… I feel bad that he’s losing Robin, but he needs to get away from all this. After everything that’s happened… Flamebird’s right,” Black Bat said softly.

“Robin will be better off there, no matter how much we miss him,” Orphan insisted.

“Yeah, yeah. Have you guys gotten any leads on where he could -”

Dick didn’t hear the rest of Batgirl’s question as he yanked out the comm and smashed it on the ground.

He’d thought… He’d hoped…

But they agreed with Bruce. They agreed with sending him away. They weren’t going to talk Damian around.

Dick pressed his face into his knees and screamed.

He couldn’t stay in Gotham. The Bats would eventually find him, and now he knew that’d be a one-way ticket back to juvie.

He left the hotel in the morning.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Robin had been hesitant to stay with the others. There was no way the Bats hadn’t noticed his involvement in the invasion that had brought their team together. It was better for him to move on as soon as possible

He really hadn't wanted to, though.

They had been an amazing team and had quickly become friends. He also knew they would understand his past if he told them since Wonder Girl was an outcast among most Amazons as a result of her Brazilian heritage, Impulse was dealing with the fact her father was currently lost in the Speed Force, Virus was still trying to reconnect with his people now that he’s free from the Mawlix, and Nightstar had run away from home to get away from her absentee mother’s shadow.

That was the only reason he stayed as long as he had while they began to put together their base using the remains of Virus’s ship.

He was working up to telling the team he had to leave when he stumbled upon Impulse and Wonder Girl talking in the common area.

“It’s a shame, really,” Impulse sighed, clutching a magazine.

“Boohoo,” Wonder Girl snorted, not looking up from her book.

“I’m serious.”

“He’s one boy, and not even a worthwhile one from what I’ve seen.”

“Speedy said White Arrow and Silver Canary have met him, though, and he’s super sweet.” The speedster shoved the magazine towards her face. “Plus, just look at him!”

Wonder Girl shoved it away, rolling her eyes.

“What’s going on?” Robin asked hesitantly.

“Impulse is crying because some famous pretty boy is going away to boarding school.”

The speedster shot her a look then turned sad eyes on Robin. “It’s Richard Grayson!”

Ice shot down Robin’s spine. “What?”

“Yeah, the Waynes are shipping him off to some school overseas,” she said, waving the magazine towards him and he took it. “The family wouldn’t say where since they wanted…”

Robin fell back on his training to keep his face blank and his hands steady as he scanned through the article.

They knew where he was, and they were covering it up. They had come up with a grand lie about him going to school in England to explain his absence.

They weren’t coming for him.

“Poor guy,” he said, closing the magazine and handing it back.

“See, Robin gets it!” he heard Impulse say as he turned and left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Small Easter Eggs: The briefcase from Teen Titans episode "Revved Up" and Dick punching Bruce from The New Batman Adventures episode "Old Wounds".

#batfam #reverse robins #dick grayson #bruce wayne #damian wayne #batkid and robin

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duchessofostergotlands · 5 years

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I’m honestly not trying to be mean or anything. I just wanted to say that I understand that Meghan is now a British Royal and she represents you. But, as a Black Woman who has dealt with people, specifically white, try to erase my heritage and culture. It makes me feel a certain way when you or anybody in this fandom get mad when Meghan shows her American roots. It sometimes feels like you’re trying to erase who she is. I’m sorry if this comes off rude I honestly don’t mean to.

Hey :) You don’t sound rude at all, please don’t worry about that! You’re very respectful and polite while still making your point!

I want to start by saying that this is something common to royals who aren’t black. Marie is French but a Danish royal and is currently experiencing criticism for not doing enough for Denmark and choosing to live in France instead. Silvia is German-Brazilian but living in Sweden, Mary is Australian but living in Denmark, Maxima is Argentinian but living in the Netherlands, the Duchess of Gloucester is Danish but living in the UK and of course Philip isn’t British either, he’s Greek/Danish. And they have the same expectations that they put the country that pays them first. However, I can appreciate that even if the actual thing itself is fair, the impact may not be. I understand- that’s probably not the right word because I can’t understand it on a personal level- that there is a different connotation for Meghan as a mixed race American woman because there is that legacy of people having their identities forcibly removed.

The difficulty is that being a royal is a job and the requirements for that job haven’t changed for centuries, they agree to it willingly: we pay them to represent us and the US doesn’t so it’s unfair that they get this free representation. While people- including the royals themselves- like to pretend they’re just a sweet family they are important parts of our government and so to take taxpayer funds and not use them for the intended purposes is a small scale abuse of public funding. I don’t hold Meghan solely responsible. If anything, it’s more understandable for her as she is actually from the US but Harry isn’t and he’s one half of that account and one half of their household.

Ultimately I think that it’s unreasonable to expect anyone to entirely forget their roots and who they are. I wouldn’t expect that of anyone but as you point out it has a different weight to it with Meghan because of that cultural legacy amongst the African diaspora. I think a good way to frame it is to think about what she can do instead of thinking of it as what she can’t do. I wrote this in a previous post and stick by it:

I’ll try to think about it more positively and offer some suggestions of things that I think would be a good way to meet her job description without forgetting her home entirely. I know there are a lot of exchange programmes for UK and US students which I think is something that would align really well with the ACU work she’s starting now. Note: The Duchess of Gloucester has honoured her roots by doing a scholarship programme for the Anglo-Danish Society which links England and Denmark. Young Leaders UK is cited on the US Embassy in London’s website, it’s a project which links British rising talents with the US. She could go to the National Museum of Scotland to see the Declaration of Arbroath which was a model for the US Declaration of Independence. It would be cool if she became Chancellor of the University of Glasgow as there were a lot of US figures studying there including James McCune Smith who was refused a place in a US university because he was black and whose degree from Glasgow made him the first African-American to have a medical degree! There are loads of clubs in the UK for female US citizens she could get involved in. There’s an American Museum in the UK.

I also thought the baseball game was good as it is a US sport with US teams playing but it benefited one of Harry’s charities and it took place in London. Cultural exchange or international relations means she can honour both countries without picking one above another. It’s also perfectly possible for them to occasionally do a US reference a couple of times a year or have one patronage out of a few dozen be for the US (Mary has an Australian patronage, I believe) but right now it’s every month without fail so I think that also would be a better tactic. Basically it isn’t that I want her to give up who she is- some people may but I don’t- it’s just understanding how they express it

#ask #anon #this was not meant to be this long lol #meghan markle #british royal family #prince harry

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thisdaynews · 3 years

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Without restructuring, Igbo or S’West presidency can’t save Nigeria — Olanipekun

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/without-restructuring-igbo-or-swest-presidency-cant-save-nigeria-olanipekun/

Without restructuring, Igbo or S’West presidency can’t save Nigeria — Olanipekun

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association and popular legal practitioner, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), shares his thoughts on the clamours for a new constitution and how the country can overcome its challenges

As a foremost lawyer, what do you make of the clamour for the restructuring of the country?

I didn’t just start advocating for the restructuring of Nigeria yesterday; it’s been a long time that I have been calling for the overhauling, replacement and restructuring of the 1999 Constitution. When I was the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, I led a team of lawyers to the then President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, and among the things we suggested to him stoically and patriotically was the overhauling of the constitution. We also volunteered to assist him, but he didn’t like it. I told him in clear terms that this constitution would not take us anywhere. One thing I have noticed is that at all levels, every person who comes to power and is enjoying the benefits of the present situation as brought about by the constitution want the status quo to remain. You also see a lot of people who have not been consistent. If you love your nation, you have to be consistent about your prognosis and views. When I talk about my nation, I talk as an elder who enjoyed Nigeria when it was good, when education was virtually free and there was liberty and security. At my age and as a lawyer, I should be able to say the truth to power. Honestly, I feel bad about this country. Nigeria has a lot of fiends and a few friends and it’s sad that everybody wants to take advantage of this country.

You said a few months ago that Nigeria needs a new constitution but some people feel we can make do with amendments because they feel it’s near impossible to convene a constituent assembly that would draft a new constitution, how do you think we can go about it?

Lord Denning said years ago in Macfoy vs UAC that you cannot put something on nothing, and Nigeria’s Supreme Court re-echoed it with approval through two beautiful jurists, Kayode Eso JSC and another jurist. May their souls continue to rest in peace. True to that statement, you cannot put something on nothing and expect it to stand. A constitution should be de facto and de jure, meaning in fact and in actuality; in practice and in theory; in honesty and in sincerity. I’m familiar with the social media to an extent and I listened to Chief John Nwodo, the Minister of Information during the regime of former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd.), who foisted this constitution on us. He said the constitution was drafted by about 47 persons, out of which 40 were military personnel. Nwodo has been my friend since our Student Union days in the early 70s. He was at the University of Ibadan while I was at the University of Lagos. He’s not given to frivolities and I can beat my chest for him to a reasonable degree. He said even when Obasanjo was to be sworn in, there was no clean copy of the constitution. Is that the way it is done, for 47 persons to prepare the constitution that governs a diverse nation like Nigeria? Elders of this country must stand up to be counted; do we just want to live by the convenience of today and not think of tomorrow; what happens to our children and grandchildren? It is not a question of who is in power, it started since the time of Obasanjo. It’s sad that some people are not even ready for intellectual discourse and that is why once they have a view different from yours, you become an enemy. Why are we treating Nigeria like a bastard? We are being unfair, unjust, careless and ungodly about this country.

Politicians have shifted the discourse to 2023 already, do you agree with those who feel that is misplaced?

Politicians can be very funny and arrogant about the future. It’s only God who owns 2023, but people are already talking about 2023, which is still two years away. By and large, if you want to be elected into any office in 2023, don’t you want to govern people that would be alive? Then, you need a working document. We still have two years three months to May 2023 and that is enough time to do something. Failure to do that, if an Igbo man or a Yoruba man win, we will witness the same thing we are experiencing under President (Muhammadu) Buhari. Then, where are we going? Is that a way to build a country? Many of us were busy trying to out-speak one another during the last election in the United States, whereas we don’t have a system or institutions here.

The reservations most people have with the constitution starts from the Preamble, what is your take on that?

I will take you through some constitutions of the world and we will compare. First, the preamble in our constitution says ‘We the people of Nigeria…’ Who are the ‘we’? That is fake and false and it’s not something we should be proud of. Let’s start with the constitution of Albania of 1998. The preamble reads, ‘We the people of Albania, proud and aware of our history, with responsibility for the future, and with faith in God and/or other universal values, with determination to build a social and democratic state based on the rule of law, and to guarantee the fundamental human rights and freedoms, with a spirit of religious coexistence and tolerance….’ My goodness! Why can’t we have something like this? Look at the religious coexistence part? They simply took cognisance of their past, why are we denying ours? That was 1998, a year before Abdulsalami imposed ours on us. God has been kind to give Nigeria good, intelligent and focused people who would think of the nation and not themselves, but what have we made of that? The Albanian preamble continues, ‘…with a pledge to protect human dignity and personhood, as well as for the prosperity of the whole nation, for peace, well-being, culture and social solidarity, with the centuries-old aspiration of the Albanian people for national identity and unity, with a deep conviction that justice, peace, harmony and cooperation between nations are among the highest values of humanity, we establish this constitution…’ This is the way it is done. Even God invited people, as stated in Isaiah 1:18 that come and let us reason together’. Who are you to say I don’t have a right to contribute to the present and future of my country?

Which other country can we learn from?

Let’s talk about Algeria, another country that didn’t run away from its history. The preamble of the 1989 constitution reads, ‘The Algerian people are a free people and decided to remain so… having fought and still fighting for the freedom and democracy, the Algerian people by this constitution decided to build constitutional institutions, based on the persuasion of the Algerian people…’ They mentioned constitutional institutions; do we have institutions in Nigeria? No. I dare say the only enduring institution in Nigeria today is the Presidency, not as characterised by the incumbent, but as it has been since 1999. PUNCH reported how the Ooni of Ife and the governors of Ondo (Rotimi Akeredolu) and Oyo (Seyi Makinde) states met with the President over insecurity. My brother, Makinde, a man in whom I’m well pleased, needed to run to Abuja to demand for Mobile Police units, in a federal republic? I’m not blaming him; I’m blaming the warped, undulating, slippery, undetermined, mercurial system and organogram of the nation. There is nothing wrong with going to see your President, but where the constitution is fair and not selfish, why can’t Oyo State be able to have its own police system?

You also mentioned Argentina, how does theirs compare to ours?

Let’s look at the preamble of Argentina’s 1853 constitution, ‘We the representatives of the people of the people of the Argentine Nation, assembled in General Constituent Congress by the will and election of the provinces which compose it, in fulfilment of pre-existing pacts, with the object of constituting the national union, ensuring justice, preserving domestic peace, providing for the common defence, promoting the general welfare, and securing the blessings of liberty to ourselves, to our posterity, and to all men in the world who wish to dwell on Argentine soil: invoking the protection of God, source of all reason and justice, do ordain, decree and establish this Constitution for the Argentine Nation.’ Can you compare them? The preamble should reflect your history and aspirations as a people, but what do we have here? Let’s look at the preamble of the Brazilian Constitution of 1988, which reads, ‘We the representatives of the Brazilian people, convened in the National Constituent Assembly to institute a democratic state for the purpose of ensuring the exercise of social and individual rights, liberty, security, well-being, development, equality and justice as supreme values of a fraternal, pluralist and unprejudiced society, founded on social harmony and committed, in the internal and international orders, to the peaceful settlement of disputes, promulgate, under the protection of God, this Constitution of The Federative Republic of Brazil’. Can you see the clear difference?

You also mentioned Egypt and Ethiopia, both of which are African countries.

Egypt is one of the oldest civilisation as stated in the Bible. The preamble of their 1980 constitution reads, ‘We, the people of Egypt, who have been toiling on this glorious land since the dawn of history and civilization; we, the people working in Egypt’s villages, fields, cities, factories, centres of education, industry and in any field of work; we, the people who believe in our spiritual and immortal heritage, and who are confident in our profound faith, and cherish the honour of man and of humanity at large…..; our people have passed through successive experiences, meantime offering rich experiences on both the national and international level and being guided by them, which ultimately took shape in the basic documentations of the July 23 revolution, led by the alliance of the working forces of our struggling people.’ You see how rich that is, but here we are behaving like the ostrich, trying to bury our past? Let’s look at Ethiopia, another great empire rooted in civilisation and history. The Ethiopian Constitution of 1995 has this preamble, ‘We the nations, nationalities and people of Ethiopia…’ Nigeria also has a lot of nations, nationalities and peoples, like the Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Hausa, Kanuri, Tivs, Ijaws, etc. Look at how their constitution recognises these but ours was silent on that.

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joleanart · 7 years

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(Brazilian!Percy) Ok, a big one is his looks. Tan skin, dark hair, light eyes. Basically my entire family. From what I know, a large amount of us look like that because of the mixed heritages, mainly coming from the italians. (1/?)

(2/?) From experience, we are super loyal to family and friends. Like, we talk shit about them, sure! But when it comes down to it, there is not a single brazilian I know that would sell out there family. But we're also super deceitful. Like, the amount of times my dad has tricked people into free beer is slightly surprising. Not to mention the way my mum talks about her "friends". The only reason she talks to half of them is either because they're good for business or she doesn't want enemies.

(3/?) also, the fact that he doesn't speak portuguese in the books can be pretty easily explained. Like, I think the reason that Sally is in America is because she couldn't go to the uni she wanted to go to in Brazil. So after her uncle/grandpa died (what was it again?) she finally moved to study in the US, met Poseidon, had Percy. And as the daughter of immigrants, I know first hand how hard it is to learn about your culture or even your language in an English speaking country

(4/?) and generally, we usually aren't very good at portuguese or sometimes can't even speak it because a) English is prioritised b) we don't get much exposure to it since only 2 countries speak it and c) it's generally a difficult language. Like, I think he can probably understand most of it, even say some of it, but if he does, his accent is terrible and the few times he's been to visit home, he's been called a gringo and teased by family.

(5/?) And lets be honest, everyone loves the beach. Like, half my family lives in the middle of São Paolo (state) and yet we still always used to got to Caraguatatuba for New Years every time me and my parents went home. Even here in Australia, we constantly seek out opportunities to go to beaches. idk if this is just my family, but I'm pretty sure being brazilian does bring, at least as a stereotype, love for the beach.

ok, first of all, it’s very interesting how you made your headcanon fit in the series. good job! and yes, brazilians are a very mixed, you’ll find all kind of people here, but the mayority of our population is black. althought percy does look like a brazilian, especially because the tan skin and connection with the beach. i think people dont know that a LOT of people here doesnt like the beach, i see it a lot in my city, actually - its a very cold city, so idk - but i absolutely LOVE IT and most part of my family and friends do too. even theres this big part that doesnt, i think most of brazilians love it cause we are so used to it ? like you said you go to the beach in new years eve and so do i! so does a lot of people, its kind of a tradition. so yes, this part of your hc its about right. and about his portuguese: i do agree. if sally was a brazilian and even if she taught him since he was little, portuguese is a language that is all about the accent. and i believe it is difficult, from what i hear. BUT theres not only two countries that speak portuguese!! in parts of africa they speak portuguese, too. and some other places that i honestly dont know the names :/ but yeah, just to make it clear.

ok so, what kind of family would percy have here? cousins ? sally has no siblings, but maybe she does have cousins. i dont know about the rest of the world but here in brazil we are very connected to family like children of distant cousins are friends, and their kids will be friends, too. its not just parents, siblings and granparents. so i think thats the family percy would have here

about where his family is from: i knoooow he would fit well as a boy from rio. rio is beautiful, full of amazing beaches, nice tan people, joy and everything BUT it would be awesome if percy was from bahia! another BEAUTIFUL place in the northeast of brazil. people from there are really happy and joyful and friendly! i mean, im just giving you an idea, its your headcanon haha but you havent said anything about where his family was from, so

i was just going throught sally’s wiki and realized something: sally’s mom was called laura. that’s a very common name here. maybe she met sally’s father when idk he was visiting the country? they fell in love and got married ? again juuust an idea haha

i would love brazilian!percy. or brazilian!piper OMG she wouldn’t be a cherokee but there’s lots of other tribes here. LOTS. omg that would’ve been amazing

#so fun to think about all this!!!#headcanons #percy jackson #brazilian!percy #pj #victorieschild

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mixedfeelingsproject · 7 years

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Arslan

Where are you from? United States of America

How would you describe your race/ethnicity? Native Turkmenadian (Kalinago/Arawack, Turkmen, Scottish, Irish, African)

Do you identify with one particular aspect of your ethnicity more than another? Have you ever felt pressure to choose between parts of your identity? Yes, and somewhat. I mainly identify with Turkish, which is pressured when I am unable to speak Turkish myself. Black Americans have wanted me to identify with black, but that would deny me my heritage. My friend's girlfriend once told me over the phone "I need culture".... Turks have been around for over a millennia, whether they were Mongols/Huns, Mughals, Seljuk, or Ottoman. I have history. Lots of it. I recently got to identifying more with my Grenadian side, eating their foods, but Turkish is predominantly how I identify, even if people don't see it haha. Latino Americans, similarly, have walked up to me speaking Spanish, and being disappointed when I couldn't. As I have found out, people think I look Brazilian or Dominican. However, that is their perception, so I don't feel pressure because I can't compare it at all.

Did your parents encounter any difficulties from being in an interracial relationship? Yes. When my they were dating, my father worked at UPS. His boss once told him he was "in the wrong kind of interracial relationship". When he introduced my mother to his mother, they got into a screaming match for a solid 20 minutes before letting my mother in. Polite, but probably seething. When I did visit Turkey when Babaanne (paternal grandmother) was still alive, I never knew more than half the family. When she died, I met cousins who were about my age. It was amazing, and sad to hear and think about.

How has your mixed background impacted your sense of identity and belonging? Very much so. I don't belong anywhere, yet I belong everywhere. I can make friends easily, but since we don't have a cultural connection, there is always a barrier. Recently, one of my close friends is Peruvian, and maybe because I look Latino, to some, we hit it off. But no, I do feel as though I don't quite belong, especially because I am upper-middle class, going to a middle to lower class college. I can feel the cultural gap. Black Americans, Latino Americans, and South Asians all call me "my n****", and I don't respond. Not my culture(s). I get along every well with Indians, Pakistani, and other MENA people more than black Americans or Latino Americans. So, it's easy to see where I belong, because my identity is stronger there. But would they let me marry their daughters? No.

Have you been asked questions like "What are you?" or "Where are you from?" by strangers? If so, how do you typically respond? Very, very seldom actually. I get this question from black Americans and Latino Americans most. However, when dealing with Eastern Europeans, or anyone from the MENA region, they are pleasantly surprised by my name. These MENA people accept me more so than non-MENA people (except Eastern Europeans). I usually get snooty, like "well, what do you think? You'll never get it right". Maybe when they ask, I'll give them my middle name, much to the shock of my friends, who think I am lying. It's quite funny, and hides my identify. Or at least one of them.

Have you experienced people making comments about you based on your appearance? Kind of? They mostly love my hair. They think it's a perm. Also, black people, followed by Latino people, are the most attracted to me. But no girlfriend, so...

Have you ever been mistaken for another ethnicity? All the time. Black, Latino, Indian! My mother and sister get Indian the most, but now me too!

Have you ever felt the need to change your behavior due to how you believe others will perceive you? In what way? No, because I am too much of a personality by myself to try to fake being anybody else. I really can't fake being anyone who I am not, even when I give a "false name".

What positive benefits have you experienced by being mixed? I am more comfortable around white people, because I realize that not every white person is European. After all, people from the MENA region are recognized as white by the U.S. census (may change in 2020). When I run into these people, we are on good terms, especially once they see my name. Being mixed has also allowed me to see the world. Thus, I believe I have a better understanding of the world and see how race is not everything, it really is an American thing. The world is broad, giving me a bigger perspective than most. For example, interracial couples are common in Paris, France; London, England; Lisbon, Portugal, and of course Sao Paulo, Brazil. It's just America it is still taboo. Living under my father's white privilege has allowed me to see the better side of the world. For example, we have a sailboat, something most minorities don't even think about, and I get to go on adventures, sailing through the Florida Keys, the Hudson River, and New York Harbor. Again, my world is broader, and I am thankful for that.

Have you changed the way you identify yourself over the years? Yes. When I was young, I was black, at least I thought I was because my mother taught me that. However, my father saw me as Turk (according to Turkish citizenship requirements, that's true). Neither did my friends. Mixed was not a word or identity that existed then. Sometimes, on the infamous race/ethnicity fill-in-the-box, I would fill in black, Asian, and native American. After all, Turkey is in Asia, not Europe (unlike what tour guides say).

Are you proud to be mixed? Yes

Do you have any other stories you would like to share from your own experiences? One time, the family was at a restaurant and the waiter asked if my dad and mom were married. Literally, the only time the validity of the family was questioned. Being mixed has given me privilege into the white mind. When I was at college, the first one, an acquaintance said "Hey, since you're not really black, can I say racist things about black people?" I said yes to learn more. A friend of his would say "I hate rap, except for Eminem, 'cus he's white". Recently, people have said I look Indian. Maybe it's the beard? I forgot the first time I got that was my second year of college. I have gotten it a lot in the last 2 months. In Portugal, a man in the first 4 hours of my arrival, asked me a question. I had no idea what he was saying. Again the next day with a woman. I have never felt so normal outside the U.S.

#mixed #turkish #turkmenadian #scottish #irish #african #identity

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New EMU student lounge, 'The Royal Treatment' barbershop and salon, set to open on MLK Day - The Mennonite

New Post has been published on https://harryandmeghan.xyz/new-emu-student-lounge-the-royal-treatment-barbershop-and-salon-set-to-open-on-mlk-day-the-mennonite/

New EMU student lounge, 'The Royal Treatment' barbershop and salon, set to open on MLK Day - The Mennonite

1.21. 2019 Written By: Lauren Jefferson for Eastern Mennonite University 723 Times read

Senior Mark Loving III works on a temple fade for associate cross country and track and field coach Erick Camodeca during a special preview evening in “The Royal Treatment,” Eastern Mennonite University’s new student lounge. The grand opening of the room, which includes amenities of a barbershop and salon, is Jan. 21, during the university’s Martin Luther King Day celebration. Photo by Andrew Strack/EMU.

On Friday afternoons and other days on demand, senior Mark Loving III opens an informal barbershop in his campus apartment at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Guys and a few girls, too, line up for a fresh look for the weekend, issued with the staple of joking, gossip, wisdom and counsel.

Soon, though, he’ll perform his craft in a proper barber’s chair with a proper mirror in EMU’s newest student space. Modeled after a barbershop and salon and dubbed “The Royal Treatment,” the space will be managed by the Black Student Union (BSU).

Scott Eyre, lead residence director, jokes with senior Jess Washingon, secretary of Black Student Union, and Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural student services. Jourdyn Friend, BSU vice president, is not shown. Photo by Andrew Strack/EMU.

“This is much more than a barbershop. This is a sanctuary,” says senior Jourdyn Friend, BSU vice president, during a special evening preview of the room. “Your hairdresser is more like a counselor, there to talk about your problems, because you’re there so long you might as well. This space is progress toward recognizing not just the majority but also the minority. This is a symbol of our voice being heard.”

The grand opening of “The Royal Treatment”–which includes two barber’s chairs, a hairwashing station, television and two comfortable couches, all enlivened by a bright wall mural celebrating African and African-American culture–is Jan. 21 at 11:45 a.m., during the university’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration. The ceremonial ribbon-cutting will be followed by a barbershop talk with local barber Tyrone Sprague. During past MLK days, a visit to Sprague’s downtown barbershop for some history, legend and lore was a much-loved EMU tradition.

“We’re so pleased that Mr. Tyrone Sprague will be coming to help us celebrate the opening of our very own barbershop and salon,” says Celeste Thomas, director of multicultural services and senior advisor to the president for diversity and inclusion. “Just like his barbershop has been for years, I know this place is going to be full of joking and laughter and wisdom, a place where people can literally and figuratively let their hair down, where they can come and have a good time and be relaxed and comfortable.”

A major ‘milestone’

For the sneak preview hangout last week, though, it was Loving who did the barbering honors in front of a group of student representatives from BSU and Latino Student Alliance invited by Thomas and lead residence director Scott Eyre. Both Thomas and Eyre sit on EMU’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (CODI), a 17-strong group that advises, consults and educates the EMU community.

Black Student Union co-president Jakiran Richardson and Latino Student Alliance co-president Ariel Barbosa look at artwork for the mural with Scott Eyre, lead residence director. Photo by Andrew Strack/EMU.

BSU members called “The Royal Treatment” a major milestone in the university’s history. Senior Jessica Washington, the club’s secretary, said she never imagined “something like this” when she arrived on campus four years ago. “This is a real blessing.”

BSU co-president Jakiran Richardson, a sophomore, views the new space as the university’s way of showing empathy and understanding for students of color who must adapt to a predominantly white campus culture. “We understand what you’re going through,” he translates. “Here’s something to show our appreciation for you being here and that we are about who you are.”

Erick Camodeca, associate cross country and track and field coach, took advantage of the preview to relax in the barber’s chair while getting a “temp fade” from Loving. Also a member of CODI, Camodeca might be new to the campus–he arrived last summer–but his experience at four other universities has given him a critical eye.

The new space, he says, “sends out a message that this university does care, that we are making a commitment to diversity and to our students.”

The barbershop is “all about community, which is one of EMU’s core values,” Camodeca adds. “What a better place to have a barbershop where people can come in of all diversities and backgrounds and share an experience and learn something.”

A measure of support for the room was the wild success of its crowdfunding campaign. More than $2,600 was raised by donors to purchase sinks, chairs and other amenities and decorations.

‘A meeting place’

Historically, the African-American barbershop and salon was, and still is, a meeting place, “a place where mothers take daughters, where fathers take sons, a family place, a place of confidentiality and gossip, with people coming in and out, selling this and that,” Thomas says.

“Not to mention food,” adds Friend to general laughter. “You can get your dinner there.”

Senior DeVantae Dews, who served in leadership of Black Student Union for three years, talks about how plans for the new lounge began. Photo by Andrew Strack/EMU.

The barbershop was also a place where “planning happened through the Jim Crow era and the civil rights movement,” Thomas says.

“It’s still definitely a place where dreams are fostered,” says former BSU co-president DeVantae Dews. Dews found Sprague’s barbershop downtown when he first arrived from Lynchburg as a first-year student. Over the years, time spent with Sprague reflecting on the Civil Rights and Black Lives Matter movements, along with a host of other topics, were important to his own outlook and activism.

“Those conversations gave me hope and vision for what I believe the next movement is to come,” Dews says, “and so I can only imagine how much wisdom will be poured down through our generations here in this place, and what this space can do–for reflecting on the growth that’s happened here at EMU and the planning we can do to make more change to help make this campus a better place for everyone.”

‘All hair types’ welcome

Eyre, the residence director, appreciates the new space as an opportunity to learn about and appreciate cultures different from one’s own. The barbershop and salon is rooted in his own learning experience, which began when female students using hair straighteners in the dorms repeatedly set off fire alarms.

“The reaction of some white and white Mennonite students who didn’t understand what was going on helped me admit that I didn’t know either,” Eyre says. “With a lot of grace, Celeste answered questions and shared about African-American hair and hairstyling and the processes involved, and I realized that EMU could do better in providing and creating spaces in support of our students.”

Barber Mark Loving finishes up a cut for Coach Erick Camodeca. Photo by Andrew Strack/EMU.

The barbershop and salon will be a familiar cultural space to many African-American students, he says, but white students “will have to figure out how they fit in,” a fair experience considering that African-American and minority students make that effort constantly at EMU, he says.

The cozy room in University Commons is located in a former office donated by the Student Government Association. Students at the sneak preview event said they were confident the space would quickly become a campus hangout.

The ambience brought back memories for Ariel Barbosa, co-president of Latino Student Alliance, of going to the barbershop with her dad, who has both African and indigenous Brazilian heritage. That same feeling of “being at home there” in the barbershop of her childhood is one she hopes will be shared here. “I’m excited that students are at the center of this project,” she says. “I just envision this as a space that will be one of true diversity, where people of all hair types will find a place.”

For Dews, who had worked on the initial plans for the space several years ago, sitting in the new lounge gives him “great hope,” he says. “And if I am hopeful sitting here, think of how a freshman would feel.…I believe this is the small fruit of the harvest of what God wants to do on this campus when looking at diversity, reconciling racial and social economies and all the other social constructions that try to divide us. This is just the beginning of what can happen on this campus.”

Source: https://themennonite.org/daily-news/new-student-lounge-royal-treatment-barbershop-salon-set-open-mlk-day/

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